Release aid for bow string

ABSTRACT

A release aid for a string bow of a typical archery bow that allows a user of the release aid to set a particular draw length. The release aid has a plurality of adjustment members slidable on a rod that is inserted through the main body of the release aid. The adjustment members can be added or removed from a first portion of the rod to either increase or decrease the draw length. Additionally, a connector assembly of the release aid can be rotated three hundred sixty degrees until secured such that a user can select a specific position of the bow string connector assembly relative to the rod and main body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to provisional patent application 62/234,785 which was filed on Sep. 30, 2015, and is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to release aids for bow strings for archery bows. There are several styles of release aids, including those with triggers, wrist straps, and handheld releases. Although, the invention can be adapted to several types of release aids, the preferred embodiment is designed to be a back tension release aid.

Perhaps the most common release aids used by hunters today is the wrist or caliper style release aid. These type of releases offer great benefits as they are often the quickest and easiest to use. The user attaches the release aid to his or her wrist with either a Velcro or buckle style strap. The release aids typically come with one of two types of wrist straps, either a continuous round strap or a “V” shaped one. From the wrist strap, a rod or rope extends from the release mechanism attaching to the bowstring. These release aids are generally triggered by the user's index finger, and only a soft movement is often all that is needed. Length adjustment options between the wrist strap and trigger help accommodate differences in hand sizes and lengths between different users.

One of the most important features of the wrist style release aid is the three-hundred sixty degree swiveling head, a huge benefit in reducing string torque by allowing the user's hand to twist without effecting string release. The jaws or calipers used when pulling the bowstring back can be single or double jaw mechanisms. These type of heads snap-on extremely quickly to the string of the bow making them ideal for hunting applications. Additionally, these type of release aids can feature ball-bearing style mechanisms.

The handheld releases are often the favorite among target, 3-D, and tournament shooters, due to their characteristics. These handheld releases can be held while utilizing two to four fingers depending on the manufacturer and style of the release and are often “T” shaped. The advantages of this type of release aid include its relatively small size and its light weight. The trigger of these releases can be manipulated by the thumb, pinky finger, or even with only the use of back tension. Back tension designs are often most preferred by tournament shooters and not hunters because of their more responsive release which although “touchy” can usually be adjusted as desired.

Various models of the back tension releases can feature a cocking bar and sear mechanism that work like a trigger and makes a soft “click” when preparing for a shot. This feature is very effective for target shooters, but due to the noise made by the “click” are not highly utilized for hunting applications.

Back tension releases are often regarded as one of archers' greatest solutions to “trigger panic” and/or for those who tend to “punch” the trigger too quickly once a target is acquired. Because they are essentially triggerless, these releases often require a lot of training time in an effort to learn how to use them correctly. It is for this reason that these releases are often better suited for more experienced shooters.

Back tension releases often differ greatly in the triggering mechanism of their string release. Instead of the archer consciously pushing or pulling a trigger, a simple rotation of the device followed by the final pull-through of your back muscles results in an increased pressure on the bow string. The climax of which, causes the release to trigger. Although back tension release aides can significantly increase your shooting potential, they are usually not recommended for beginners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved bow string release aid which allows the user to adjust the draw length. The prior art does not allow the user to adjust the draw length except by use of a bow press, and even then the amount of adjustment can be limited to a quarter of an inch.

The present invention utilizes a plurality of adjustment members that can be moved from a first side of the bow string release aid to a second side of the bow string release aid. The more adjustment members that are on the first side cause a handle of the release aid to be further from a hook assembly, therefore, increasing the draw length. The user can then find an ideal draw length or modify the draw length by moving one or more of the adjustment members from the first side to the second side, or vice versa.

A second aspect of the invention allows the hook assembly to rotate three-hundred and sixty degrees around an axis that is perpendicular to the handle. The user can then set the hook assembly in a preferred position. The position can be changed by unlocking a retention member and setting a new position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a left side view of a bow release aid.

FIG. 2 is a right side view of the bow release aid.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bow release aid.

FIG. 4 is a back view of the bow release aid.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the bow release aid showing the draw length adjustment mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-5 illustrate an embodiment of a bow release aid 20 for a bow string of a typical archery bow. Although a back tension release aid 20 is shown in the figures, other styles of release aids could be fitted with the adjustment mechanism of the invention for modifying the draw length x, however, the preferred embodiment is for the back tension style of release aids.

The bow release aid 20 is shown which comprises a main body 23 having a handle 30 which has a thumb rest member 32 and finger grooves 34 for three fingers. While various number of finger grooves 34 can be utilized, the preferred embodiment has three finger grooves 34. A rod 40, best seen in exploded view FIG. 5, is inserted through a channel 43 of the handle 30.

On a first end of the rod 40, a bow string connector assembly 48 comprises a linkage member 52 which is pivotally connected to a hook assembly 54 via hinge 55. The hook assembly 54 comprises a double sided hook 50 also known as a sear. A first hook 51 is selectively attachable to a bow string, while a second hook 53 is selectively retained by a semicircular cam 70. The mechanism of the release aid is well known in the art and is described in this application previously.

A plurality of adjustment members 60 are on the rod 40 and flank the handle 30 as shown in FIG. 1.Preferably the adjustment members 60 are rings but can be other shapes. The hook assembly 54 is a first distance from the handle 30 which first distance is defined by the number and/or thickness of the adjustment members 60 on a first section 44 of the rod 40. The more adjustment members 60 or a greater thickness of a particular adjustment member 60 cause the first distance to increase. Accordingly, the distance between the handle 30 and the hook assembly 54 increases and the draw length increases.

In order to adjust the draw length, a user of the invention can either remove or add an adjustment member 60 to the first section 44. The adjustment members 60 on a second section 46 as additional adjustment members 60 that can be selectively moved to the first section 44. In the preferred embodiment, the adjustment members 60 on the second section 46 do not affect the draw length. A retention member 62 is selectively attachable to the rod 40. Preferably the retention member 62 is a threaded screw which can be screwed or unscrewed from the rod 40.

The cam 70 is preferably a double cam that is rotatable relative to the handle 30. The whole linkage member 52 is three hundred and sixty degrees rotatable on the rod 40. The linkage member can be locked into a plurality of positions such that the linkage member 30 and thus the cams 70 can have a position relative to the handle 30 which the user selects. A particular position can be set when the retention member 62 is tightened.

The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations of the embodiments are possible in light of the above disclosure or such may be acquired through practice of the invention. The embodiments illustrated were chosen in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, and by their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A release aid for a bow string, comprising: a main body; the main body having a channel; a rod insertable into the channel; the rod having a first section; the first section on a first side of the main body; at least one adjustment member on the first section; the at least one adjustment member having a thickness; a bow string connector assembly; wherein the thickness of the at least one adjustment member on the first section determines a distance between the main body and the bow string connector assembly; wherein the distance can be modified by utilizing an adjustment member or a combination of adjustment members with a different thickness.
 2. The release aid of claim 1, wherein: the rod has a second section; the second section located on a second side of the main body; a plurality of adjustment members are on the rod; wherein a set number of adjustment members can be placed on the first side of the main body to define a certain distance between the bow string connector assembly and the main body; wherein each adjustment member can be placed on either the first section or the second section; wherein a combination of the number of adjustment members and the thickness of the adjustment members determine the distance.
 3. The release aid of claim 2, wherein: the bow string connector assembly comprises a hinge; the bow string connector assembly further comprises a sear; the bow string connector assembly further comprises at least one cam.
 4. The release aid of claim 3, wherein: the bow string connector assembly rotatable relative to a longitudinal axis of the rod.
 5. The release aid of claim 4, wherein: the bow string connector assembly can be selectively positioned relative to the main body.
 6. The release aid of claim 5, wherein: a retention member connectable to the rod; wherein the retention membert maintains a selected position of the bow string connector assembly.
 7. The release aid of claim 6, wherein: the connector assembly has two cams; wherein the cams are offset to produce an audible click.
 8. The release aid of claim 7, wherein: the main body comprises at least three finger grooves.
 9. A release aid for a bow string, comprising: a main body; a bow string connector assembly; the bow string connector assembly rotatable relative to a longitudinal axis of the main body; wherein a user can selectively set the bow string connector assembly in a preferred position relative to the longitudinal axis of the main body.
 10. The release aid of claim 9, further comprising: a rod; the main body comprises a channel; the rod insertable into the channel; the bow string connector assembly attached to the rod; a retention member; wherein the retention member secures the rod and the bow string connector assembly in the preferred position.
 11. The release aid of claim 10, further comprising: a plurality of adjustment members; the adjustment members slidable over the rod; the adjustment members selectively movable from a first side of the main body to a second side of the main body; wherein the number of adjustment members on the first side at least partially determine a distance the bow string connector assembly is from the main body.
 12. The release aid of claim 11, wherein: the bow string connector assembly comprises a hinge; the bow string connector assembly further comprises a sear; the bow string connector assembly further comprises at least one cam.
 13. The release aid of claim 12, wherein: the bow string connector assembly has two cams; wherein the cams are offset to produce an audible click.
 14. The release aid of claim 13, wherein: the main body comprises at least three finger grooves.
 15. A release aid for a bow string, comprising: a main body; the main body having a channel; a rod insertable into the channel; the rod having a first section and a second section; the first section on a first side of the main body; the second section on a second side of the main body; wherein the placement of the rod relative to the main body determines the first section and second section; adjustment members selectively movable from the first section to the second section; each adjustment member having a thickness; a bow string connector assembly; the bow string connector assembly is a distance from the main body; wherein a combination of the number of adjustment members on the first section and the thicknesses of the adjustment members on the first section determine the distance.
 16. The release aid of claim 15, wherein: the bow string connector assembly rotatable relative to a longitudinal axis of the rod.
 17. The release aid of claim 16, wherein: the bow string connector assembly has two cams; wherein the cams are offset to produce an audible click.
 18. The release aid of claim 17, wherein: the rod is cylindrical; the adjustment members are circular.
 19. The release aid of claim 18, further comprising: a retention member; the retention member insertable into the rod; wherein the retention member can be tightened in order to secure the bow string connector assembly in a particular position.
 20. The release aid of claim 19, wherein: the main body comprises a thumb rest member. 